FEC Authorizes The Purchase Of Airport Scanners For N3.2 Billion
FEC Approves N3.23bn Narcotic Detection Systems At 5 Airports
The FEC authorizes N3.23 billion for drug detecting systems at five airports
The procurement and installation of specialized explosive and drug detection screening equipment in five international airports throughout Nigeria will be covered by a N3.23 billion contract authorized by the Federal Executive Council (FEC) on Monday.
The drive-view mechanism of the detection screening systems would be installed in the following airports: Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport, Enugu and Port Harcourt; Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos; and Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.
Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport in Abuja, Murtala Mohammed International Airport in Lagos State, Malam Aminu Kano Airport in Kano State, Akanu Ibiam International Airport in Enugu State, and Port Harcourt International Airport in Rivers State are the airports where the detection screening systems will be installed.
This was stated by Mr. Festus Keyamo, the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, to State House reporters following the FEC meeting in the Council Chambers of the Presidential Villa in Abuja, which was presided over by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
According to him, the FEC decided that the equipment installation was required to relieve Nigerians of the anguish of having to undergo manual security checks at the airport.
“The two memos that Aviation presented today, and they were approved, one is a memo for the signing of a bilateral air service agreement with the Republic of Guyana. We have entered into an agreement with Guyana and they have been very anxious to have direct flights from Guyana to Nigeria.
“This agreement was entered way back in 2014, with the administration at that time, but you understand that international agreements, which are treatises, don't come into force until their internal processes are completed in both countries.
“The second one, it's what Nigerians will be interested in because, since I came to office, we have been inundated with complaints of the harrowing experiences that passengers go through at the airports where they have to physically search their bags. I'm sure you all know about that and it's been really getting under the skin of Nigerians.
“You'll see various agencies lined up; NDLEA, they'll say open your bag, Immigration, they'll say open your bag, Customs, they'll say open your bag, EFCC, they'll say open your bag, and they will dip their hands in your bag.
“So we thought we should do something like you have the TSA in America, where you have detection machines. So when they pass your bags throuh the machines, they detect explosives or any other thing and that's the end of the search.
“So it's for the approval of the award of contract for the supply and installation of customized explosive and narcotic detection screening systems, with remote and dual view for the international airports of Abuja, Lagos, Kano, Port Harcourt and Enugu.
“Luckily enough, the Council saw the need for this kind of equipment in order to relieve Nigerians of such experiences and it was graciously approved by Council,” he said.
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